The iconic Altadena mansion featured in the award-winning Max series Hacks has reportedly burned down in the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, with only its facade remaining, per deadline.com. The 1915 Spanish Colonial Revival mansion, known for its distinctive pink exterior and century-long legacy in film and television, succumbed to the Eaton fire this week.
The property, which served as Deborah Vance’s “side mansion” in seasons 2-4 of Hacks, represents just one casualty in a growing list of historic filming locations threatened or destroyed by the current wildfire crisis. Scott Kradolfer, Key Assistant Locations Manager for Hacks, confirmed that while the production had completed filming at the mansion earlier in Season 4, the loss represents a significant blow to Hollywood’s architectural heritage.
“The most unique feature was the color – that kind of pink Spanish colonial revival. Some people would think it was an eyesore, but I thought it had natural beauty to it,” Kradolfer reflected. The mansion’s impressive filming history dates back to 1921’s Seven Years Bad Luck and includes appearances in Knots Landing, Ratched and the recent Palm Royale.
Other significant properties at risk include the Crank house, featured in Matilda and Scream 2, and the historic Rubio Street mansions seen in “Risky Business” and “This Is Us.” The McNally House, famous for its role in “Entourage,” has already been confirmed destroyed, while actor Will Rogers’ historic ranch house fell victim to the Palisades fire.
As mandatory evacuation orders remain in place, the full extent of the damage to these irreplaceable pieces of Hollywood history remains uncertain. The fires have not only claimed these cultural landmarks but have also devastated thousands of Los Angeles families, who have lost their homes and precious belongings in what is becoming one of the area’s most destructive wildfire seasons.
•Featured image: Jean Smart as Deobrah Vance in “Hacks,” the Altadena mansion used as the filming location for Hacks Season 2 and 3 for Deborah Vances L.A. home/HBO
